Distributed muster for ocean-going vessels

ABSTRACT

Distributed muster includes distributing to different mobile devices an identity of an assigned muster location of an ocean-going vessel, and associating each mobile device both with a corresponding passenger of the ocean-going vessel, and also with the assigned muster location. Thereafter, a timer initiates that defines a period during which a muster drill must be completed by all of the passengers and, in response, a message is transmitted to each mobile device that the muster drill has commenced. During the period, as each mobile device is sensed within a geographically defined area of a correspondingly assigned muster location, a record of the completion of the muster drill by the passenger associated with the sensed mobile device is recorded in the memory. As well, subsequent to a lapsing of the timer, a listing is displayed of any passenger not recorded as having completed the muster drill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of muster drill management inan ocean-going vessel and more particularly to coordinating passengermuster in a cruise ship.

Description of the Related Art

Muster refers to the organized and pre-planned congregation of differentpassengers on an ocean-going vessel at different locations of theocean-going vessel in preparation for a response to an emergencycondition in the ocean-going vessel. Traditionally, in the context of apassenger cruise ship, a muster drill is performed at the beginning ofthe cruise before the cruise ship departs or shortly thereafter. Duringthe muster drill, each individual passenger reports to an assignedmuster station—a specific location on the vessel. A crew member thenconfirms the presence of each passenger expected to be present at thespecific location during the muster drill so that all passengers may beaccounted for in the event of an actual emergency and a resultant actualmuster.

Muster drills are particularly important because, with differentclusters of passengers pre-positioned at specific, predeterminedlocations, an orderly evacuation of the vessel may be achieved ifrequired, or at least all passengers can be accounted for and thelocation of the passengers managed relative to a location of anemergency condition aboard the vessel. Muster drills also are importantas the muster drill introduces to each passenger the precise location atwhich the passenger is required to report in the event of an actualemergency as well as demonstrates important safety information such asthe identification of life jackets and warning signals the guest mighthear. Consequently, despite the prospective frenetic activity of anactual muster during an emergency, there is some confidence that thepassenger will be able to traverse the vessel to the assigned musterstation.

For many cruise passengers, the muster drill is viewed as a necessaryannoyance. Further, the muster drill can be confusing forsome—particularly the elderly and children—both of whom often requireadditional assistance locating and moving towards assigned musterstations. Crew members generally are trained to supply such assistance,but lapses remain possible. To the extent that the intent of the musterdrill, in part, is to make each passenger aware of the assigned musterstation, performing the muster drill for many thousands of passengers,all at once, may create unnecessary confusion or missed opportunities toeducate and inform, in light of the ultimate goal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to muster and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system andcomputer program product for distributed muster for ocean-going vessels.In an embodiment of the invention, for each of a multiplicity ofdifferent mobile devices, an identity of a correspondingly assignedmuster location of the ocean-going vessel is distributed to the mobilecomputing device by way of a computer communications network. In thisregard, each of the different mobile computing devices may be associatedin memory of a computing system, both with a corresponding passengeramongst a set of passengers of the ocean-going vessel, and also with theassigned one of the muster locations. Thereafter, a timer initiates, thetimer defining a period during which a muster drill must be completed byall of the passengers in the set. In response to the timer, a message istransmitted to each of the mobile devices that the muster drill hascommenced.

During the period defined by the timer, as each one of the mobiledevices is sensed within a geographically defined area of acorrespondingly assigned different one of the muster locations, a recordof the completion of the muster drill by the corresponding passenger ofthe one of the mobile devices may be recorded in the memory. As well,subsequent to a lapsing of the timer indicating a completion of themuster drill, a listing may be displayed in a display of the computingsystem, of any of the set of passengers not recorded in the memory ashaving completed the muster drill. In this way, the performance of themuster drill may be conducted in a distributed fashion over a period oftime so as to reduce unnecessary chaos and so as to not overburden theentirety of the passengers with a specified singular moment in time whenthe muster drill must occur.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the method additionally includesdetecting a proximity of one of the mobile devices to a correspondingone of the muster locations assigned to one of the set of passengersassociated with the mobile device, while the mobile device remainsoutside of the geographically defined area of the corresponding one ofthe muster locations. In response, a prompt may be displayed in a userinterface of the mobile device, the prompt prompting the correspondingpassenger to enter into the geographically defined area of thecorresponding one of the muster locations so as to satisfy the musterdrill. In another aspect of the embodiment, video playback of a musterdrill video may be displayed within a user interface of each of themobile devices prior to the initiation of the timer. Thereafter, as eachone of the mobile devices is sensed within the geographically definedarea of the corresponding one of the muster locations, a presentation isdisplayed within the user interface of a set of questions pertaining tothe muster drill video in the user interface. Finally, for each mobiledevice sensed within the geographically defined area, answers receivedfor the set of questions are scored. Optionally, it may be determinedthat the scored answers for one of the mobile devices exceeds athreshold value, so that a voucher for a reward may be transmitted tothe one of the mobile devices.

In yet another aspect of the embodiment, a position of each one of themobile devices may be located during the period defined by the timer forthe muster drill. As such, for each one of the mobile devices, anavigation route may be computed from the located position to acorrespondingly assigned one of the muster locations. Consequently, foreach one of the mobile devices, the navigation route is displayed in auser interface therein.

Finally, in even yet another aspect of the embodiment, during the perioddefined by the timer, a button control is displayed within a userinterface of each of the mobile devices. The button control isconfigured to transmit a message requesting assistance during the musterdrill. Consequently, during the muster drill, the message may bereceived from one of the mobile devices, a position located of themobile device, and a crew member mobile device nearest to the positionidentified. Finally, the position and an identity of a passengercorresponding to the mobile device may be transmitted to the crew membermobile device.

In another embodiment of the invention, a data processing system isadapted for distributed muster for ocean-going vessels. The systemincludes a host computing system of one or more computers, each withmemory and at least one processor. The host computing system iscommunicatively coupled over a computer communications network to amultiplicity of different mobile devices. The system further includes adata store coupled to the host computing system, the data store storingin a database, a set of records, each of the records associating apassenger on a specific ocean-going vessel both with a corresponding oneof the mobile devices, and also a particular one of a multiplicity ofmuster locations on the specific ocean-going vessel.

Notably, the system also includes a distributed muster module. Themodule includes computer program instructions executing in the memory ofthe host computing system. The computer program instructions in turn,are enabled during execution in the memory of the host computing system,to distribute to each of the different mobile devices, by way of thecomputer communications network, an identity of an assigned one of amultiplicity of muster locations and thereafter, to initiate a timer inthe memory, the timer defining a period during which a muster drill mustbe completed by each passenger on the specific ocean-going vessel. Theprogram instructions further are enabled to transmit a message to eachof the mobile devices, that the muster drill has commenced in responseto the timer. Then, during the period defined by the timer, as each oneof the mobile devices is sensed within a geographically defined area ofa correspondingly assigned different one of the muster locations, theprogram instructions record in the memory a completion of the musterdrill by the corresponding passenger of the one of the mobile devices.Finally, subsequent to a lapsing of the timer indicating a completion ofthe muster drill, the program instructions display in a display of thecomputing system, a listing of any of the set of passengers not recordedin the memory as having completed the muster drill. As well, targetedinstructions may be transmitted to specific ones of the passengers afterthe completion of the muster drill

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a process for distributed musterfor ocean-going vessels;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a data processing systemconfigured for distributed muster for ocean-going vessels; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for distributed muster forocean-going vessels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for distributed muster forocean-going vessels. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention,different muster locations are assigned to different passengers of anocean-going vessel, and the identity of an assigned muster location isdistributed to a mobile device of each corresponding passenger. A timeris then initiated that defines a period during which a muster drill mustbe completed by all of the passengers, in response to which, a messageis transmitted to each mobile device that the muster drill hascommenced. During the period, as each mobile device is sensed within ageographically defined area of a correspondingly assigned musterlocation, a record of the completion of the muster drill by thepassenger associated with the sensed mobile device is recorded in thememory. Once the period has lapsed according to the timer, a listing isdisplayed of any passenger not recorded as having completed the musterdrill. In this way, the process of performing the muster drill may bedistributed across a period of time so as to relieve the burden of anall-at-once effort of a traditional muster drill.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 pictorially shows a process fordistributed muster for ocean-going vessels. As shown in FIG. 1,different passengers on an ocean-going vessel 150 each are registered ina muster drill table 160 in connection with a device identifier for acorresponding mobile device 110 and an assigned muster station 140. Hostcomputing system 100 then transmits to each of the mobile devices 110over data communications network 120 a correspondingly assigned one of amultiplicity of muster stations 140 on board the vessel 150.Subsequently, host computing system 100 initiates timer 130 defining aperiod for a muster drill during which period each of the passengersmust check into a correspondingly assigned one of the muster stations140. As such, the host computing system 100 directs each of the mobiledevices 110 to display in a user interface both an indication 180 of theassigned one of the muster stations 140, and also a countdown indication180 of the remaining time in the period defined by the timer 130.

In this regard, during the period defined by the timer 130, as eachmobile device 110 is sensed within a geographical area corresponding toan assigned one of the muster stations 140, an entry in the muster drilltable 160 is provided indicating that a corresponding one of thepassengers has completed muster. For instance, the mobile device 110 mayinclude short range wireless communications adapted to communicate witha receiver disposed within the geographical area so as to indicate apresence of the mobile device 110 at the assigned one of the musterstations 140. Alternatively, a bar code displayed in the user interfacecan be scanned at a kiosk disposed within the assigned one of the musterstations 140. As yet another alternative, an identification card orbracelet can be scanned at a kiosk within the assigned one of the musterstations 140. In this way, at the conclusion of the muster drill definedby the timer 130, a list 170 of those of the passengers who have notcompleted muster can be displayed in the host computing system 100.

Optionally, during the period defined by the timer 130 for the musterdrill, a navigation path 195 may be computed for each of the passengersas between a contemporaneous location of each of the mobile devices 110and an assigned one of the muster stations 140. The navigation path 195then may be displayed in the user interface of each of the mobiledevices 110 along with correspondent navigation instructions. As anotheroption, a button 175 may be disposed within the user interface of eachof the mobile devices 110 and the button 175 may be configured tomessage the host computing system 100 with a request for assistance. Inresponse to the request, the host computing system 100 locates thecorresponding mobile device 110 and messages a crew member device (notshown) determined to be nearest to a location of the mobile device 100with the identity of an associated passenger and the location of thecorresponding mobile device 100.

Finally, as even yet another option, during the period defined by thetimer 130, whenever one of the mobile devices 110 is detected to bewithin proximity of the assigned muster station 140, a prompt 185 isgenerated in the user interface inviting the corresponding passenger toenter a geographical area corresponding to the assigned muster station140. More particularly, as each passenger traverses portions of thevessel 150 during the muster drill, it can be determined that acorresponding one of the mobile devices 110 comes within proximity of anassigned one of the muster stations 140. In the event that a mobiledevice 110 is found to be within proximity of the assigned one of themuster stations 140, but outside of the geographical area defining theassigned one of the muster stations 140, a prompt 185 is presentedencouraging the associated passenger to take advantage of the proximityby performing muster as a matter of convenience.

The process described in connection with FIG. 1 may be implementedwithin a computer data processing system. In further illustration, FIG.2 schematically shows a data processing system configured fordistributed muster for ocean-going vessels. The system includes a hostcomputing system 210 that includes one or more computers, each withmemory and at least one processor. The host computing system 210 furtherincludes a data store 220 adapted to store therein different records ofdata. As well, the host computing system 210 is communicatively coupledto different mobile devices 240 over computer communications network230.

Of note, the host computing system 210 supports the execution in memoryof a distributed muster drill module 300. The module 300 includescomputer program instructions enabled during execution in the memory ofthe host computing system 210 to communicate with a muster client 250 ineach of the mobile devices 240. Each muster client 250 is a computerprogram operable to receive directives from the program instructions ofthe distributed muster drill module 300 and to render a user interfacewithin the mobile computing device 240. The program instructions furtherare enabled during execution to transmit to each of the muster clients250, an assigned muster station and to record a record for eachcorresponding one of the mobile devices 240 a record correlating apassenger with the corresponding one of the mobile devices 240, and theassigned muster station.

The program instructions even yet further are enabled during executionto initiate a timer defining a period of time during which a musterdrill is to be conducted, and to direct each of the muster clients 250to display a countdown timer along with an indication of an assigned oneof the muster stations. During the period of time defined by the timer,the program instructions yet further are enabled to receive differentindications of different ones of the mobile devices 240 coming within ageographical location defining a correspondingly assigned one of themuster stations. In response, the program instructions are enabled torecord in the data store an indication that each corresponding passengerassociated with the mobile devices 240 has completed muster inaccordance with the muster drill. Finally, at the conclusion of theperiod of time defined by the timer, the program instructions areenabled to identify in the data store 220 ones of the mobile devices 240not determined to have come within a geographical location defining acorrespondingly assigned one of the muster stations and to displayassociated ones of the passengers as having not completed muster duringthe muster drill.

In even yet further illustration of the operation of the distributedmuster drill module 300, FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a processfor distributed muster for ocean-going vessels. Beginning in block 310,a passenger list for a selected ocean-going vessel is loaded into memoryof the host computing system and in block 320 each of the passengers areassigned in a table a respective one of a multiplicity of differentmuster stations on the ocean-going vessel. As well, in block 330 anidentifier for a corresponding mobile device is recorded in the table inconnection with each passenger. Thereafter, a countdown timer defining aperiod for a muster drill is initiated in block 340.

In block 350, it is determined if any of the mobile devices has comewithin a geographical area defining a muster station associated with themobile device. If so, in block 360 the mobile device is correlated to aparticular one of the passengers in reference to the table and in block370, a presence of the passenger at the correct muster station isrecorded in the table. Thereafter, in decision block 380, so long as theperiod defined by the timer has not yet expired, the process returns tondecision block 350. But, in decision block 380 if the period defined bythe timer has expired, then in block 390, a list of those passengers inthe table not recorded as having completed muster are displayed in thehost computing system.

The present invention may be embodied within a system, a method, acomputer program product or any combination thereof. The computerprogram product may include a computer readable storage medium or mediahaving computer readable program instructions thereon for causing aprocessor to carry out aspects of the present invention. The computerreadable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain andstore instructions for use by an instruction execution device. Thecomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limitedto, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an opticalstorage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductorstorage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network. The computer readable program instructions mayexecute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer,as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer andpartly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer orserver. Aspects of the present invention are described herein withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems), and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein includes anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which includes one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of theinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detailand by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:

We claim:
 1. A method for distributed muster for ocean-going vessels,the method comprising: distributing to each of a multiplicity ofdifferent mobile computing devices, by way of a computer communicationsnetwork, an identity of an assigned one of a multiplicity of musterlocations of one of a multiplicity of ocean-going vessels; associatingin memory of a computing system, each of the different mobile computingdevices both with a corresponding passenger amongst a set of passengersof the one of the multiplicity of the ocean-going vessels, and also withthe assigned one of the multiplicity of the muster locations; initiatinga timer in memory of the computing system, the timer defining a periodduring which a muster drill must be completed by all of the passengersin the set for the one of the multiplicity of the ocean-going vessels;transmitting a message, from the computing system, to each of the mobiledevices, that the muster drill has commenced in response to the timer;during the period defined by the timer, as each one of the mobiledevices is sensed within a geographically defined area of acorrespondingly assigned different one of the muster locations,recording in the memory a completion of the muster drill by thecorresponding passenger of the one of the mobile devices; and,subsequent to a lapsing of the timer indicating a completion of themuster drill, displaying in a display of the computing system, a listingof any of the set of passengers not recorded in the memory as havingcompleted the muster drill.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting a proximity of one of the mobile devices to acorresponding one of the muster locations assigned to one of the set ofpassengers associated with the one of the detected one of the mobiledevices while the one of the mobile devices remains outside of thegeographically defined area of the corresponding one of the musterlocations; and, directing a prompting in a user interface of thedetected one of the mobile devices to enter into the geographicallydefined area of the corresponding one of the muster locations.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: directing a video playback of amuster drill video within a user interface of each of the mobile devicesprior to the initiation of the timer; directing a presentation of a setof questions pertaining to the muster drill video in the user interfaceof each of the mobile devices as each one of the mobile devices issensed within the geographically defined area of the corresponding oneof the muster locations; and, for each of the mobile devices sensedwithin the geographically defined area, scoring answers received for theset of questions.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:determining that the scored answers for one of the mobile devicesexceeds a threshold value, transmitting to the one of the mobile devicesa voucher for a reward.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:locating a position of each one of the mobile devices during the period;computing for each one of the mobile devices, a navigation route fromthe position to the correspondingly assigned different one of the musterlocations; and, for each one of the mobile devices, displaying thenavigation route in a user interface therein.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: during the period defined by the timer, directing adisplay within a user interface of each of the mobile devices, a buttoncontrol configured to transmit a message requesting assistance duringthe muster drill; receiving the message from one of the mobile devices;locating a position of the one of the mobile devices; identifying a crewmember mobile device nearest to the position; and, transmitting theposition and an identity of a passenger corresponding to the one of themobile devices to the crew member mobile device.
 7. A data processingsystem adapted for distributed muster for ocean-going vessels, thesystem comprising: a host computing system comprising one or morecomputers, each comprising memory and at least one processor, andcommunicatively coupled over a computer communications network to amultiplicity of different mobile devices; a data store coupled to thehost computing system, the data store storing in a database, a set ofrecords, each of the records associating a passenger on a specificocean-going vessel both with a corresponding one of the mobile devices,and also a particular one of a multiplicity of muster locations on thespecific ocean-going vessel; and, a distributed muster module comprisingcomputer program instructions executing in the memory of the hostcomputing system, the computer program instructions performing:distributing to each of the multiplicity of different mobile devices, byway of the computer communications network, an identity of an assignedone of a multiplicity of muster locations; initiating a timer in thememory, the timer defining a period during which a muster drill must becompleted by each passenger on the specific ocean-going vessel;transmitting a message to each of the mobile devices, that the musterdrill has commenced in response to the timer; during the period definedby the timer, as each one of the mobile devices is sensed within ageographically defined area of a correspondingly assigned different oneof the muster locations, recording in the memory a completion of themuster drill by the corresponding passenger of the one of the mobiledevices; and, subsequent to a lapsing of the timer indicating acompletion of the muster drill, displaying in a display of the computingsystem, a listing of any of the set of passengers not recorded in thememory as having completed the muster drill.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the program instructions further perform: detecting a proximityof one of the mobile devices to a corresponding one of the musterlocations assigned to one of the set of passengers associated with theone of the detected one of the mobile devices while the one of themobile devices remains outside of the geographically defined area of thecorresponding one of the muster locations; and, directing a prompting ina user interface of the detected one of the mobile devices to enter intothe geographically defined area of the corresponding one of the musterlocations.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the program instructionsfurther perform: directing a video playback of a muster drill videowithin a user interface of each of the mobile devices prior to theinitiation of the timer; directing a presentation of a set of questionspertaining to the muster drill video in the user interface of each ofthe mobile devices as each one of the mobile devices is sensed withinthe geographically defined area of the corresponding one of the musterlocations; and, for each of the mobile devices sensed within thegeographically defined area, scoring answers received for the set ofquestions.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the program instructionsfurther perform: determining that the scored answers for one of themobile devices exceeds a threshold value, transmitting to the one of themobile devices a voucher for a reward.
 11. The system of claim 7,wherein the program instructions further perform: locating a position ofeach one of the mobile devices during the period; computing for each oneof the mobile devices, a navigation route from the position to thecorrespondingly assigned different one of the muster locations; and, foreach one of the mobile devices, displaying the navigation route in auser interface therein.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the programinstructions further perform: during the period defined by the timer,directing a display within a user interface of each of the mobiledevices, a button control configured to transmit a message requestingassistance during the muster drill; receiving the message from one ofthe mobile devices; locating a position of the one of the mobiledevices; identifying a crew member mobile device nearest to theposition; and, transmitting the position and an identity of a passengercorresponding to the one of the mobile devices to the crew member mobiledevice.
 13. A computer program product for distributed muster forocean-going vessels, the computer program product including a computerreadable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith,the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device toperform a method including: distributing to each of a multiplicity ofdifferent mobile computing devices, by way of a computer communicationsnetwork, an identity of an assigned one of a multiplicity of musterlocations of one of a multiplicity of ocean-going vessels; associatingin memory of a computing system, each of the different mobile computingdevices both with a corresponding passenger amongst a set of passengersof the one of the multiplicity of the ocean-going vessels, and also withthe assigned one of the multiplicity of the muster locations; initiatinga timer in memory of the computing system, the timer defining a periodduring which a muster drill must be completed by all of the passengersin the set for the one of the multiplicity of the ocean-going vessels;transmitting a message, from the computing system, to each of the mobiledevices, that the muster drill has commenced in response to the timer;during the period defined by the timer, as each one of the mobiledevices is sensed within a geographically defined area of acorrespondingly assigned different one of the muster locations,recording in the memory a completion of the muster drill by thecorresponding passenger of the one of the mobile devices; and,subsequent to a lapsing of the timer indicating a completion of themuster drill, displaying in a display of the computing system, a listingof any of the set of passengers not recorded in the memory as havingcompleted the muster drill.
 14. The computer program product of claim13, wherein the method further comprises: detecting a proximity of oneof the mobile devices to a corresponding one of the muster locationsassigned to one of the set of passengers associated with the one of thedetected one of the mobile devices while the one of the mobile devicesremains outside of the geographically defined area of the correspondingone of the muster locations; and, directing a prompting in a userinterface of the detected one of the mobile devices to enter into thegeographically defined area of the corresponding one of the musterlocations.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein themethod further comprises: directing a video playback of a muster drillvideo within a user interface of each of the mobile devices prior to theinitiation of the timer; directing a presentation of a set of questionspertaining to the muster drill video in the user interface of each ofthe mobile devices as each one of the mobile devices is sensed withinthe geographically defined area of the corresponding one of the musterlocations; and, for each of the mobile devices sensed within thegeographically defined area, scoring answers received for the set ofquestions.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein themethod further comprises: determining that the scored answers for one ofthe mobile devices exceeds a threshold value, transmitting to the one ofthe mobile devices a voucher for a reward.
 17. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: locating aposition of each one of the mobile devices during the period; computingfor each one of the mobile devices, a navigation route from the positionto the correspondingly assigned different one of the muster locations;and, for each one of the mobile devices, displaying the navigation routein a user interface therein.
 18. The computer program product of claim13, wherein the method further comprises: during the period defined bythe timer, directing a display within a user interface of each of themobile devices, a button control configured to transmit a messagerequesting assistance during the muster drill; receiving the messagefrom one of the mobile devices; locating a position of the one of themobile devices; identifying a crew member mobile device nearest to theposition; and, transmitting the position and an identity of a passengercorresponding to the one of the mobile devices to the crew member mobiledevice.